The publication of the Vth International Symposium 1995 on "Mechanisms
of Secondary Brain Damage" in Mauls/ltaly is a collection of focused
reviews reaching from novel molecular- and cell biological findings to
aspects of clinical management in head injury and cerebral ischemia. A
specific purpose of these series of meetings introduced in 1984 is for
an exchange on problems of mutual interest by international high ranking
experts from the basic sciences and related clinical disciplines, such
as intensive care medicine, neurology, or neurosurgery. The present
volume covers three major areas: (a) Molecular and cell biological
mechanisms including inflammation (b) Novel findings on mechanisms and
treatment in cerebral ischemia (c) Secondary processes in head injury,
regeneration and treatment Molecular-and cell biology is currently
attracting attention towards activation of genomic processes associated
with the demise of cells referred to as "programmed cell death" and
"apoptosis" which, actually, might be distinguished from each other.
Thus, the phenomenon of delayed neuronal death in selectively vulnerable
brain areas following brief interruption of blood flow is scrutinized as
to the contribution of the activation of suicide genes. The
physiological role of such a response, among others, is removal of
surplus neurons during ontogenesis of the brain. Yet, evidence is
accumulating that similar mechanisms playa role in cerebral ischemia,
probably also trauma, where nerve-and other cells demonstrate features
of apoptosis. Observations on protection of neurons by administration of
protein synthesis inhibitors in cerebral ischemia provide more direct
support.
